FAQ

An overview of the most frequently asked questions

Do the colours have a special meaning?

Different stories are being told about the meaning of the tape’s colour. Some of the colours would allegedly cause different reactions in the body. One thing is certain ......about the differences between the colours and that is the elasticity factor. This has been investigated in Spain and it has been discovered that each tape colour has a different elasticity factor. See article “Mechanical behaviour of functional tape” from the literary database. The colouring of the basic materia

l (beige tape) causes a change of the basic characteristics of the elastic tissue. It appears now that the black tape is the least elastic tape and the beige tape is the most elastic one. This fact could explain some reactions. Why do some colours stick better than another colour with the same patient? This could be explained by the fact that the elasticity of that specific colour matches de elasticity of the skin of the patient better. Is this possible?! There are other possible explanations, that….

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Does is matter how the tape is applied?

Yes, there is a difference in technique and application form of the tape.

Firstly, the elasticity you put on the tape is of major importance. In practice we see different ......

reactions of the body to the “stretch stimulus”. The smaller the stimulus, the greater the reaction is of the body. If the stimulus gets too great, do not forget that the tape is on 24 hours a day and that it is attached to the skin multiple days consecutively, the body will work against it.
The application form is most important in the beginning of the treatment. Several studies show that mainly the applying of the tape provides the most results in acute cases, according to the anatomy. This is reflected in the obtained profit in the ROM of the joint. (Article: “Short term effects of Kinesio Tape on pain and cervical ROM in patients with acute whiplash injury” or “……”, see further in the literature database). In the sub-acute phase, the segmental stimulus is more reflected and it seems to take over in for example the pain relief (Article: “The effect of Curtape on the pain during the menstruation by patients with primary dysmenorrhoea”). However, there is not much known about this and a lot of research should follow.

Does one wants to work responsibly with the elastic tapes, it is advisable to participate in a course. All the ins and outs will emerge in such a course.

Does the tape contain medicines?

No, it doesn’t. There are no medicines added to the tape. The effect is solely generated by the elasticity. There is ....

a tape provider though, who has added certain substancesto the tape, but there is no proven capital gain (This tape is the so called “Kiratape”). The original concept doesn’t work with medicines nor with Kiratape!

How can we charge the tape?

There is no simple answer to this question. There are a lot of different systems used. In some cases the charging can concern a recipe for dressing materials, in .....

which case the tape can be purchased by the patient at a pharmacy. One can also increase the rate of the treatment as to cover the tape expenses. Or the patient buys a roll himself at the pharmacy or distributor and allows the practitioner to apply the tape to the skin.

Within greater care providers, one is often dependent on the procurement of the care agency. Currently, there aren’t any guide lines regarding the price of an application of the tape.

How does the tape work?

In practice, this is the most frequently asked question and there are several opinions on this subject. It is important to not perceive the tape as a panacea ....

that can replace any other form of therapy. Many people view this concept as an added intervention rather than an independent therapy. It is an application to influence the pain, reduce swelling and support the muscles. It is primarily a call to the body’s own healing process. The tape can have various effects on the body. The indicator range is large and there is still more being discovered and confirmed by surveys.
After the application of the tape, it is clearly visible that the skin is being lifted up, wrinkles arise. The pressure under the skin is reduced by the lifting of the skin, creating more space for the lymphatic drainage, as a basis for a better metabolism. Because the tape also excites sensors in the skin, a pain attenuation can occur in the affected area. This pain attenuation ensures a functional recovery of the tissue so that a better (time wise) recovery process can occur. Moreover, the tape stimulates some mechanosensing sensors in the skin that also causes a change in the operation of underlying structures. In practice, certain reactions of organs have also been observed after the application of the tape on …….

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Is the tape hypoallergenic?

According to the producers the tapes are hypoallergenic. In practice, one comes across very few patients who have an allergic reaction to the tape. This is due to ....

the various characteristics of the tape. Firstly, there is no latex manufactured in the tape, so it is better tolerated. The tape consists of a high quality cotton and the adhesive layer is made of 100% Acrylic. Moreover, the structure of the tape is an open grid. Therefore, it doesn’t close off the skin so that it can still "breathe". The skin is the largest organ of the body excretion and this function is not hindered by the tape. If the patient, immediately after applying the tape, reports a burning sensation under the tape and there is redness around the tape, caution is advised and it is possible that an allergic reaction has occurred.

However, itching isn’t necessarily a contraindication against the use of the tape, because …

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Is the tape hypoallergenic?

Yes, there is a clear difference between the tape of the different brands. This is on the one hand caused by the colouring which chances the ....

elasticity and on the other hand is the adhesive layer made of a different material or it has a different structure, which makes that the adhesion is unsatisfactory. When the tape lets go of the skin within 24 hours, it could mean the following:

The skin was too greasy or too hairy

The basic material (brand of the tape) is of poor quality

A wrong technique has been used (you often see a wrong or compensatory movement)

A different colour should be tried

If all of this doesn’t help, it should be questioned whether taping is a good indication (a good extra tool) with this patient.

What does a subscription provide for me?

Tapingbase could mean more than just a site that gives information. It is of course the beauty of a site that there is always the possibility to ....

distribute knowledge that is “up to date”. A number of enthusiastic employees, all medically educated and coming from the “practical work field”, update the site. They all have the experience to work with the tape as well.
The knowledge is provided in several ways:

• Several courses are offered for different professional groups. All these courses are supported by many pictures and video material. There are courses of different levels.
• Beside the courses, there is a video database that shows all the tapes.
• The making of a news-blog is underway. In this news-blog all the new developments in the field of the tape and taping will be described.
• The helpdesk could answer specific questions.

An important item within the site is the forums where communication is taking place. On these forums one can consult colleagues on their field about practical matters, occurring in the practice or one can give tips. This way one helps developing and deepen the concept. The educative aspect is of course discussed in the E-learning courses, that are offered made to measures. All of this is powered by an impulse for motivation on our field.

What is the best way to remove the tape from the skin?

Most books say that the best way to remove the tape is to make it wet. But why? The adhesive layer doesn’t dissolve in water en the skin will only become more ....flaccid! In this case you often see that the upper skin gets stuck to the adhesive layer, you will see light red spots appear on the skin.
It’s better to use a glue dissolver. Sterilium is a really good and handy alternative. Wet the tape with Sterilium and wait 1 to 2 minutes so that the adhesive can dissolve. After doing this the tape can easily be removed.

- remove the tape in the direction of hair growth
- pull off the tape at an angle of 180 degrees

- fixate the skin proximal of the part of tape you removed

Tip: with children it is strongly advised to use a glue dissolver. Once the removal of the tape has proven painful for a child, they will no longer want tape at the next treatment.

What is the difference with the conventional tape (sports tape)?

There is a great difference between our tape and the non-stretchable tapes. The use of the type of tape lies mainly in the target or the .....

indication. One attempts to steer or limit a movement with the non-stretchable tape. Thereby large parts of the skin are fixated by what a joint can be limited. This can cause, mainly with sportsmen, besides the advantages, a disadvantage. Compensational reactions will appear, looking at the kinesiology, to enable a movement all the same. The movement is being sought in adjacent joints. This can lead to complications. This is greatly reduced or is even not mentioned with the stretchable tapes. The movement can always be made but a different reaction will occur. The tape stimulates the skin, whereby the brains will be activated a lot more and a request will be made for an “active” stabilisation. This is mostly effective and desired in therapeutically purposes.

This stimulus of the skin by the stretchable tapes takes care of an activation of the nerve systems, whereby more happens in the body than we can see or perceive from the outside. Think of pain reduction in menstruation symptoms.
(Article: The effect of Curtape® on the pain during de menstruation by patients with primary dysmenorrhoea”). There is no direct link to explain by a mechanical way, but the tapes are effective.

If you want to know more about the effects, you can read more about this in the subscriber’s section.